6 Tools You Need in Your Kitchen, According to a Chef

Chef Cris Ravarré is a product of one of America’s favorite and most culturally rich cities: New Orleans. Growing up around a family of fantastic home cooks and incredible women and matriarchal figures whose love language was food, she learned her way around the kitchen and discovered her love for cooking early on. She got her start by preparing beloved New Orleans-inspired staples for family and friends before moving on to spend a decade cultivating and honing her craft under the mentorship of top chefs in NOLA’s renowned French Quarter. In 2018, she settled in Atlanta, where she worked part-time as a commercial model and kickstarted her business as a private chef and caterer.

Today, Cris is a private chef and a sous chef at Cafe No Sé at the South Congress Hotel in Austin, Texas. I’ve been lucky enough to savor many a fare from Chef Ravarré in both professional and personal settings; she is undoubtedly a spice connoisseur and, as a picky, texture-driven eater herself, a master of texture. While simply having the right tools in your repertoire won’t instantly propel you to a pro chef’s level of mastery, Cris believes that for the home cooking enthusiast, these tools will give you restaurant-level precision and finesse right in your own kitchen. Here are the six must-have kitchen tools to level up your kitchen game, as shared by Chef Ravarré herself.

Cris’ responses have been edited for grammar and clarity.

Fish Spatula With a Silicone Tip

[A fish spatula is] my unexpected love and my go-to for crisping salmon skin or preparing any fish — the ease of moving from pan to plate is perfection. But this works wonders on so much more than just fish. It also functions as the best tool for scrambled eggs or making sauces in a pan with its silicone tip, and it flips a fried egg, a burger patty or a pancake with the same ease across the board. This is the sauté pan’s best friend. The silicone tip also means you can use it on all cooking surfaces, even nonstick pans and iron skillets.

Microplane

Also known as a rasp-style grater, this is my go-to for a more delicate shave in my garnishes, as opposed to a grater. Whether adding citrus zest to a vinaigrette or topping my crème brûlée with shaved chocolate, this is one of my top-used kitchen tools. If you’ve ever needed a pinch of nutmeg or star anise to add a bit more depth to your soup, for example, this removes the big, clunky grinder from the equation. A few swipes on the microplane and you’re set! And the shavings are much finer and fluffier.

Immersion Blender

[An immersion blender is] the “I can do it, too” tool of the kitchen. Also known as a hand blender, this versatile tool lends itself well to so many tasks, making it well deserving of a spot on my top kitchen tools list. Want to create a beautiful bisque? Immersion blender. Want to make your own homemade mayo? Immersion blender. Want to make a smoothie without the hassle of pulling out the big, hard-to-clean blender? Immersion blender. It really can do it all, and it creates the smoothest finish and the most perfect texture for soups, purées, smoothies and sauces! It also often makes it possible to cook your dish in one pot from start to finish.

Thermometer

This tool is my security blanket in the kitchen. I would never dare destroy a beautifully grilled hanger steak or a perfectly medium roasted duck breast by under- or overcooking as a result of guess work. Precision is the name of the game when it comes to refining your preparation of meat and poultry products, and that same precision is your precautionary measure to help prevent foodborne illnesses. To ensure that perfect temperature every time, rely on your instant thermometer. Keep some spare batteries on hand!

Gram Scale

When using potent spices or specific baking agents, the gram scale is a must. You wouldn’t want to use 10 grams of cayenne when your recipe calls for 8 grams or use 14 grams of baking soda when it calls for 4 grams. Depending on how tightly you pack a measuring cup or spoon, it can result in pretty significant changes in the actual volume of an ingredient used, and sometimes even the most minuscule difference in measurements can make or break your dish. When a recipe requires accuracy and precision, this is always on my prep table.

Honing Steel

This, my friends, is the workhorse of the group. After prepping tons of carrots or apples, for instance, your knife will need a little love to get its sharp edge back. Learning and understanding the sharpening technique with a honing steel will keep your cuts clean, quick, predictable and safe. Dull knives hurt the most! A sharp, well-maintained knife will also cut down your preparation time, boost your dish’s visual presentation and preserve the integrity of your ingredients for enhanced flavor.

You can taste some of Chef Cris’ delightful concoctions at Cafe No Sé in Austin and you can find her on social media at @ravarre.co.